Love Thy Neighbour

Christmas Bowl Resources

Over 65 years of the Christmas Bowl

It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees. - See more at: http://www.actforpeace.org.au/System/Christmas-Bowl/Homepage#sthash.6FNeGEDB.dpuf

It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees. - See more at: http://www.actforpeace.org.au/System/Christmas-Bowl/Homepage#sthash.6FNeGEDB.dpuf

It began on Christmas Day 1949, when a minister named Rev Frank Byatt in Victoria placed a simple empty bowl on the table before him. He humbly asked his friends and family to contribute what they felt the cost of the meal had been. Rev Byatt asked that they consider their own good fortune in being able to share a Christmas meal together in comfort and safety. And he invited them to share God’s blessings of love and friendship in the form of a gift to help people who had fled the horrors of World War Two and were suffering as refugees.

This invitation to Australian Christians to stand by men, women and children living through conflict and displacement is, sadly, more important than ever. For the first time in history, there are nearly 60 million displaced people in the world who need our help.

The Christmas Bowl appeal is our way of forging a loving connection between our Christian community here in Australia and people around the world who are experiencing dreadful hardship and suffering.

Ways to get involved

Your Christmas gift to the world

Together we are working for safety, dignity and justice in communities threatened by conflict and disaster. Thanks to your gifts to the Christmas Bowl, Burmese refugees will have enough to eat, Palestinian families in Gaza can now receive the desperately needed medical care and Christians and other groups fleeing persecution in Iraq still have hope.

A win for love and compassion with #LetThemStay

#LetThemStay is a new campaign supported by the Australian Churches Refugees Taskforce (ACRT), an Act for Peace initiative, which aims to create a new, more compassionate attitude to refugees and people seeking safety in Australia.

A new start for two Sudanese sisters

Giving hope to the future of Gaza

Because of Gaza’s long blockade and the recent devastating war, jobs and opportunities for training are scarce. It can be easy for young people to feel lost and purposeless. Despite this, many are determined to learn the skills they need to look support themselves and their families.

Helping ends meet for Syrian refugees in Jordan

Mother-of-six Maya had to leave behind her a life of sunset strolling in the park with her husband and evening meals with the family for a damp house in a refugee camp in Jordan. In winter, water comes through the leaky ceiling, and in summer it’s stiflingly hot.

Supporting Sri Lankan refugees in India

Theatre for peace and justice in the Philippines

Teatro Ekyumenikal (Ecumenical Theatre) is a cultural theatre group established by Act for Peace partner’s the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. The group’s eclectic performances bring social justice issues to any venue, however small or large.

Working together to prepare for disaster in Vanuatu

Last year’s Cyclone Pam was only one of a series of natural disasters that have struck the island of Vanuatu in recent years. People on Vanuatu are frequently affected by extreme weather events like this, which can have a devastating impact on houses, farms and businesses, leading to poverty and loss of livelihoods.

The Christmas appeal of Act for Peace

Act for Peace is the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia and a member of the ACT Alliance, a global network of more than 130 Christian organisations, all working together for change.

We believe in a world where every person is free from suffering caused by conflict and natural disasters. Across the world, we work with local communities so they can prepare for emergencies and respond fast to protect the most vulnerable people when disaster hits. We also lobby governments and decision-makers for positive action which promotes peace and supports people affected by conflict and disaster.

The Willunga Tree Festival is a great way to support the Christmas Bowl, engage with the community and share the Christmas spirit.

- Jenny Esots, Local organiser

I am very proud of the Coffs Coast for rallying behind the purposes of Act for Peace and the Christmas Bowl, in providing support for targeted countries and assisting them to be resilient to global issues.

Your privacy is important to us. Act for Peace collects your personal information in order to keep you informed about our projects, activities and opportunities to take action. By providing your information you are agreeing that Act for Peace may use it to contact you in the future. You can opt out of future communications, or contact us with any queries, by emailing info@actforpeace.org.au, calling 1800 025 101 or writing to Act for Peace, Locked Bag Q199, QVB NSW 1230. To reduce overheads we may provide your information to trusted suppliers who provide services on our behalf (including mail, data, phone, IT, processing and research). Our privacy policy www.actforpeace.org.au/privacy contains information about: (i) how we collect, store and use, plus how you can access and correct your personal information; (ii) how you can lodge a complaint regarding the handling of your information; and (iii) how any complaint will be handled by Act for Peace.

Act for Peace is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct and Fundraising Charter, which commits international aid and development organisations to good standards of governance, transparency, accountability and effectiveness.

Act for Peace is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global network of grass-roots aid organisations working together in over 140 countries. Together we mobilise about $1.5 billion each year to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalised people regardless of their religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality in keeping with the highest international codes and standards.